Apparatus for manufacturing plates



1932- A w. SYKES 1,873,361

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PLATES Filed Jan. 11, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 23, 1932.

w. S YKES APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PLATES Filed Jan. 11, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 23, 1932. 'K 1,873,361

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PLATES Filed Jan. 11, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 23, 1932. w SYKES 1,873,361

I I APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PLATES Filed Jan. 11,- 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ing, beyond such tolerances.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 WILFBEZD swans, or onIoAGo', rnmnors Arrann'rns roafnenurnomunmo PLATES v i Application filed January 11, 1928. Serial no. 245,940.

My invention relates,more particularly,

to the manufacture of so-called universal'mill plates distinguished from sheets),

namely, plates, the lateral edges of which are rolled-to cause the plates to be of the desired m thicknessand Width, suchkind'of plates being commonly produced either onreversing universalfmills or mills of the so-calledzcontinuous type in which the material from which-the platesare formed moves unidirectionally through the mill.

While the lateral edgesof such plates so rolled on mills as commonly'provided are equidistant? throughout their length by reason of the provision of vertical rolls between which the-material passes in the rollingoperation, itoftenhappens-that the plates issue from the mill-.curvedin the horizontal plane beyond the permissible commercial'tolerances, due to one or more ofmany causes as recognized :in-the art; and 111 some cases, whlle issningfrom the mill'in such form as to cause.

them to be Within such permissible tolerances become curved the horizontal plane, in cool-.

As further'descrlptlve of the conditions presented-by prior-practice, it may be'stated that in-the use of the. reversing-type of mill fairly satisfactory results in the production of plates, have been produced by providing a sooalled. straight edge against which one edge of the plate, after passing through the mill, is forced by. pressure applied'to the opposite edge thereof, but such an arrangement 8 is wholly unsuited for theproduction ofrele atively'thinplates inasmuch as the action of thestnaightening' means buckles, instead of straightens, the plate. Furthermore, .it .often occurs that plates Which'issue'from these mills g, of such form as to be Within the permissible tolerance, become curvedin :a horizontal plane beyond-such tolerance in the cooling thereof onathe cooling bed due to unequal cooling of the variousrportions of the plate.

In the caseof the soecalled continuous the plates-areusually rolled in very long lengthsand sheared'to the des'iredlengths, as they leave the mill, by means of' i a flying shear and thereafter piled on top of 69 eac'hloth'er. andithenremovedto a coo'ling bed:

In this type of mill thestraightedge device which has sometimes been used'with theme versible mill. as above statedcannotbe used and it often happens that the plates issuing from these mills present the objectionable curvature referred to or thatsuch-objectionable curvatureis produced in the cooling of the plates. Such curved plates have been straightened cold, as for example by subjecting them individually to a bulldozing opera;

tion or to a peening operation. Theprincipal objection to the bulldozing operation is that it is commercially impracticable to. straighten a plate by this operation, due-to the tendency of the plate to buckle, unless the I width of the plate is less than thirty times its thickness and in any. event the, plate issub j ec'ted to objectional local stresses. The peening operation referred to consists in peening the concave edge portion ofthe plate to 'elongate this edge but which operation is. not commercially satisfactory and sets up the objectionable stresses referred to. 1 l The deficiencies in the methods and apparatus hitherto employed, present great objecs tions in the commercial production of plates of the character above stated particularly because of the necessity for scrapping certain of I the plates-because they fail to meet the permissible tolerances as to flatness of faces and rectilinear parallelismtof lateral rolled edges;

While it is possible to roll plates within the permissible tolerances, at least so'that the plates as they issue from the mill in heated condition will be w-ithinsuch tolerances,such

operation of a mill requires that the millbe operated very slowly and'the plate as it is rolled carefully observed and asthe'rollin'g progresses comparatively fine adjustments made of the parts of themillfor correction,

this slowing down of the operation of the mill obviouslygreatly adding to the cost of production. It is furthermore to-rbevnoted that in the case ofthe continuous mill, where long lengths are usually" rolled and out to desired lengths as they leave the mill it is usually impossible to correct for curvature by adjustments of the=partsof themill while the steel is in the mill, so that aconsiderable' amount of steel maybe rolledbefore an l 6 i portunity occurs to correct such curvature with consequent loss of material.

My primary object is to provide a novel apparatus for straightening rolled edge plates which shall be applicable to the straightening of such plates of widely varying thick nesses ranging from a relatively thick plate to-a relatively thin plate, without danger of "buckling the plates and by an operation whichiscperformed upon theplate afterfit has passed through the mill and the plate is in relatively cool condition and the use of which the mill may be operated rapidly and without the careful adjustment of its parts necessary to ensure the rolling of the plates within the permissible tolerances another object is to perform the stra1ghtening operationeconomically and by apparatus of compara-tively inexpensive construction; and

other objects as will be manifest from the following description;

'Referring to the accompanying drawings:--

Figure 1 isa plan view, partly diagrammatic, ofrawellknown construction of socalled reversible universal mill for. rolling plates. 'Figure Q is a similar View of awell known universal m1ll of the continuous type. Figure 3' is a view in s deelevation of one end of plate-stretching mechanism ;embody-.

" ing my invention and by the use of which my new method may be practiced, and Figure 4,

a similar View of the other-end ofthis mechanis1n,1th.ese two views showinga plate,-to be stretched, positioned therein. Figure .518

a broken, enlarged, view. of the aw portion o-f thepart of the mechanism shown in Figure 6 is a plan view of. the part of the mechanism shown in'Fig. 3, with a portion of the .upper, girder member broken away. Figure 7 is a similar view .of the part of the 'mechanism' shown'inFig. 4,, also with a pordistantly spaced throughout the length of the plate, by any suitable mechanism as for exampleon a reversing universalmill or on a continuous universal Il'llll, IIllllS of both of these types being illustrated. c 1

Referring to the reversing mill structure of Figgwl, it comprises a pair of horizontal rolls arranged in a vertical series,,one only ofthese rolls being shown at. 'l0and between which the material from which the plate is to beformed, is rolled to cause the plate to causethe platetorbe of the desired width, these rolls being illustrated as driven, in a i to be of the desired thickness, the rolls 10 being mounted in housings 11 and driven in opposite directions from a power device represented at 12, in a well known'manner.

VThe machine also comprises vertically disposed rolls represented at 13, shown as 4 in number, and located adjacent opposite ends of said horizontal rolls 1O and provided for the purpose of rolling the edges of'the plate manner wellrknown the art, through the medium of shafts 'l l cc innected with the drive shaft of the power device 12 through the medium 'of the gear train 15. In the use of this mill a slab from which the plate is to be formed andof slightly greater width than the desired width ofthe plate is passed back and forth through the horizontal I and ver'- tical rolls the rotation of which is reversed attheend ofeach pass to cause these rolls to rotate in the direction of the movement of the plate being formed, the vertical rolls be i ing gradually moved toward each other and likewise the horizontal rolls 7 to gradually reduce the distance between these-rolls with each pass to produce in the final pass a of the desired thickness and width.

' Referring to the continuous universal mill of Fig.2 it comprises a horizontal series of plate pairsof horizontal rolls 16"the rolls ofeach U from jack shafts lS-geared toa cross shaft 19and driven,:through:the medium; of a gear 7 train 20, by-a motor represented at 21. The rolls 17 of each pair thereof are drivenin' opposite directions and inthe arrangement shown by'three separate means,-one pair be ing driven, by suitable driving connections, from a motor 17 another pair by the motor 21 by suitable connections between'this pair and the shaft 19; and the third pair by amotorl'? through suitable driving connections Inthe use of the mill just described the materialfrom which-the-iplate is tobe formed, passes successively between the horizontal rolls 16 and between thevertical rolls 17; The material in passing between the rolls referred to: is reduced in thicknessand inwidth, the vertical rolls operating-to roll the opposite lateral edges'of the plate as it is being formed,

and the plate issuing from the end of the ma-' chine of the desired thickness and width with its lateral edges, rolled as stated,spaced apart an equal distance throughout the length of the plate. a v r .Where the plates produced the rolling 7 operation, :as for example. on either-of the :T

In Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, of thedrawings- I have disclosedan apparatus ofa constructionsuitable for operating on'the plate to straighten it and constituting the-preferred embodiment of my invention. The apparatus referred to comprises a relatively heavy base member 22 equippedwith.

parallel, tracks 23 and providedat its ends with heavy uprights 2-1 and 25, rigidly connected together at their upper ends by a girder 26, the base member 22, uprights 24 and 25, and grider 26 forming a heavy rigid frame. I

Located in the space within this frame at one end thereof, is a carriage 27 formed of two sections 28 and 29 relatively adjustable lengthwise of the machine, the section 29 being in the form of a clamp head provided with parallel bars 31 extend ng longitudinally from one end thereof and guidingly through horizontal openings in the carriagesection 28, the rear ends of these barsbeing threaded as represented at 32 and equipped with gears 33 internally threaded and screwing upon the threaded ends- 32 of the bars and abutting an end of the carriage-section- 28. The gears 33 mesh with a pinion 34; journalled on the frame, one of the gears 33 meshing with another pinion 35 driven by a motor 36 mounted on the carriage-section 28 the arrangement just described permitting of the adjustment of the clamping head 29 on the section 28 in a direction lengthwise of the machine.

The carriage 27 is equippedwith pairs of wheels 37 and 38 provided on the carriage sections 28 and 29, respectively, and at which wheels the carriage rests on, and is movable along, the rails 23. The wheels 37 are rigidly connectedtogether throughv the medium of an axle 39 ournalled in the carriagesection 28 and equipped with a sprocket 40. I The sprocket 40 is engaged by a sprocket chain 41 passing over a sprocket 42 rigidly secured to one endof a-shaft43 journalled on the carriage-section 28 and driven by aamotor 44 on this section. The means just described afford means by which the carriage may be moved along the rails 23 for the purpose here inafter described. i

The apparatus also comprises'bars 46 and 47' which extend lengthwise of the appara tus and, are securely anchored against: displacement, these bars, whielrare arranges. adj ac-entathevtop and bottom, respectively, :of' the stationary frameof: the-apparatus,;.con

V taining a series: ofzvertically align ediopenin gs 48' and 49, respectively: Thezcarria'geesection. 218- contains an upwardlyaopening groove 59. and a similar: do'Wnwardlyeopeni-ng groove: at which this; frame: section .sl-idin'glyr em-pbraces the uppercand lowerih'arss' 46 ands 1:7,; 5

Means: are; provided *forr firmly: anchoring. the carriage in its dilirent positions ofadjust ment along the'stationary frame these-:means comprising; blocks =51 and 552 slidablyrmount ed in" the grooved portions aofxthe: carriage-- sectio-ns'28 and adapted to be projected. through theopenings s48? anid'49; Therhloeks '5l-aand 52 are pivotally connected withithd pins of cranks- 53 and 54, Jrespeictivety, .the pin of-crank 53 .b'eing. represented-M553 .1

cranks-53 ands5; are rigidlyiconnectediwith P thenpper and lower-sends ofilaverticalxshaft. 56 journalled in the carria-gei section1283mm equipped with' an actuating; handle- 57 rigid therewith, the: cranksfi53 ands542being-soare ranged on this. shaft. thatvthe craaik. pinsv are in vertical alignment WithfGaOhHOthBKi-t being, understood from the: foregoing? de-.

, scriptionkthat byactuatingthe shafti56 the.

blocks 51 and 52;may-beimovedzintozand ol'ait of those ofthe-slots 483and-49' with which theyregister; l

The apparatus attheopsposite-Fendoftthe stationary frame; is provided with means p.- erable to exert on the endaof:therplateopeposite that; gripped by-the carriage-:27rsi1fli: oient pulling force to stretch the: plate into. the desired form above referred toi-thesei means comprising; hydraulic mechanism shown as formedrof arcyl-inder-158 secured toiv the upright 25 the 'inletzofjthe cylinder on an. extension of. the upriglrtz25,-coil springs 66 surrounding :therrod 62 ibeingicon fined between the upright 25 and :the head '64:: and tending tomove this headto the left in Figs tand 'l l Any suitable means for clamping the ends ofthe plate to. bestraightened to the'eheads-28i and- 64: may be provided} In .theparticulan construction shown such clamping means:- comprise grippers 67. which aremou-nted inv the heads at opposite sidesof horizontalfslots 1 therein and represented at 68 and-69, respectively. As shown of the head'fiki', the He ds are transversely recessed, ,as represented? at 70, at opposite sides oftlierslots therein, to form socketportionsflll in which uie amsuy ylindrical portions 7 20f the-grippers are rotatably confined, these grippers belng-entered :into the. portions 71x of' -the recesses through-either end of these portions; The grippers167 arex'so constructed: and arranged,- as shown, that they converge in a direction toward the end of-the machine at which'they are-located whereby the endlof a plate may be readily introduced betweenthese grippers and :when force is app'liedtending to move the h'eadFGito the right in Figs. 4 and -7 the gripperson each head'will automatically grip the endsof theplate to provide theresistance necessarywto prevent movement. of the plates in theheads. 5

:In the operatiio nof'the machine theplate to be i'straightened is positioned, in relatively cold.condition,;at its opposite ends between ill the grippers on-the heads .29 and :64, and as suming the'carriage27 to-be anchored against n'iovementlengthwise of the machine by the positioningiof the blocks 51 and '52 in registering" ones ofthei openings 48 and 49, the operator-admits actuating fluid through the pipe 59170 the hydraulic cylinder 58'thereby forcingthe head 64 .to the right in Figs. 4c and 7 which subjects the plate to the straightening action referred to, the power exerted by lengths. I As a carriage of the construction shown is rathercumbersome, and involves considerable time for its adjustment and anchoring, :it is preferably constructed in sec tionsas shown anddescribed withmean's'for adjusting. the clamp head 29 relative to the carriage-section 28 whereby relatively fine adjustmentsofthe head29 may be eifected when necessary following the adjustment of the other section of the carriage and by which adjustments for plates varying slightly in length, may be made: without necessitating the adjustment of suchother carriage-section. 'fWhile I have illustrated and described a particular form of apparatus suitable for practicingmy improved method, I'donot wish t'o beu'nderstood' asin ten ding to limit my in vention theretopas the same may be practiced by "other "constructions I of apparatus; and while'I have "illustrated by" the apparatus shown, particular embodiment of my invent-ion,'I donot wish to be understood as intending to' l imit ittheretoas-the same'may be. variously modified andaltered without defrom the spirit of my invention.

' What I'claim as new, and desire to secure by. Letters I Patent, is

1. A machine of.- the character set forth,

comprising spaced-apart members for engag ing the ends of the work, one of said meming section andis bodily adjustable relative to the other section thereof in a direction lengthwise of themac'hine, means for riglda 1y holding said other section against move-v ment lengthwise of the machlne, and'means for effecting relative movement of said mem bers in a direction away from each other to stretch the work.

2. A machine-of the'character set forth, comprising spaced-apart members forengaging the ends of the work, one'of said members being formed of sections, both of which are adjustable, as a unit, lengthwise of the'machine .and one of which isa workengaging section and isbodily adjustable relative to the other section thereof in a 'direction lengthwise of the machine, and means for moving the work engaging'portion of the other of said members in a direction awa from'said work engaging section.

3. A .machine of the character set forth,

comprising spaced-apart members for engaging the ends of the work, one of said members being formed of sections both of which are adjustable, as a unit, 'lengthwise'of the machine and one of which is a work-engagcomprising spaced apart members for engag ing the ends of the work, one of said mem-, bers being formed of sections both of which are adjustable, as a unit, lengthwise of the machine and one of whichis a work-engaging section having parallel rods extending therefrom and guidingly engagingthe other ofsaid sections, and means engaging said rods" for adjusting said sections relative to each other. s Y

5. A machine of the character set forth, comprising spaced apart-members for engaging the ends of the work, one of said'membersvbeing formed of sections both of which are adjustable, as a unit, lengthwise of the portions of'said members at whic he work is engaged. I

,machine and one of which is awork-engag- 6. A stretching machine comprising spaced-apart members for engaging the ends of the work, one of said members being formed of sections both of which are adjustable, as a unit, lengthwise of the machine, and one of which is a work-engaging section bodily adjustable relative to the other section thereof in a direction lengthwise of the machine and supported at least partly other- 10 wise than on such other section, and means for effecting relative movement of said members in a direction away from each other to stretch the work. 1

7 A machine of the character set forth, 15 comprising spaced apart members for engag ing the ends of the work, one of said members being formed of sections both of which are adjustable, as a unit, lengthwise of the machine and one of which is a w0rk-engag-' 20 ing section and is adjustable relative to the other section thereof, means for rigidly holding such other section against movement lengthwise of the machine, and a motor on said last-referred-to section and operative to 25 adjust said work-engaging section relative to said other section.

WILFRED SYKES; 

